Analysis on factors affecting career plans of students studying in mathematics and science departments of Faculty of Arts and Sciences (A case study of Sakarya province)

This survey has tried to take views of students, who study in physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology departments of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, about factors affecting their career plans. The sample of this survey consists of 300 senior students of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology departments of Sakarya University in 2013-2014 academic year. There are 216 female, and 84 male respondents taking part in this survey. The questionnaire was prepared by the researcher and it covered a chapter including demographical information regarding this survey. Collected datum was saved on computer and "IBM SPSS Statistics 21" program was used for statistical solutions. After entering the datum, percentage and frequency distributions and charts were used together with Chi-Square analysis. It was determined that there is a statistically strong relationship between effect of mother, sibling, conformity between job and abilities, and busy shift and travel requirements of the job and sex variable on the career plan of the student. Upon the evaluation of findings it was concluded that students' close relatives/ friends, personal characteristics and abilities, economic factors and prestige of the job had tremendous effects on their career plans. It was also determined that there is a statistically significant relationship between variable of departments where students study and effects of personal features and capabilities, economic factors, prestige of the job and current economic developments on the career plans of the students. Key Words: career, career planning, faculties of arts and sciences.